House recognizes student athletes and veterans; consent calendar passes

The Tennessee House of Representatives on April 9 recognized several student-athletes, coaches and veterans with formal resolutions and adopted the consent calendar before standing in recess until 9 a.m. on April 10, 2025.

Members read and adopted commemorative resolutions honoring Valor College Prep’s 2024 girls volleyball state champions, Karina Bistri of Central High School for being named TSSAA Class 2A Miss Basketball, Hillsboro High School’s boys basketball team for winning the 2025 TSSAA Division I Class 4A championship, Louisville Middle School’s Hornets for winning the James C. Hill state tournament Class A title, and several other local teams and individuals. Representative Jason Powell introduced the Valor College Prep recognition and said the team represented “our schools in an unbelievable manner.” Athletic director Cameron Hill told the House the squad finished the season with a strong record and “sports a 3.18 GPA.” Head coach Kylie Harvey said, “This season was one for the books,” and Valor sophomore Lily Quick told members, “I want to start off by saying thank you so much to Representative Jason Powell for this opportunity.”

The House also adopted resolutions honoring military service and veterans. Representative Fritz introduced a resolution recognizing Chief Warrant Officer 3 Phyllis Ann Fitzgerald for 21 years of U.S. Army service and subsequent civilian veteran-support work. Fitzgerald addressed the chamber, recounting her service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and saying she was “honored to be here” and humbled by the recognition. Representative Camper and others participated in the remarks for Fitzgerald.

A separate resolution honored 15-year-old Evan Boyd for intervening when a peer produced what appeared to be a handgun during class on Jan. 30, 2025. Principal Mac Petty of Gornswell High School, who joined the House in presenting the resolution, said the incident was “a very traumatic day” and praised Boyd’s “unselfish act of bravery.” The adopted resolution says school staff and local law enforcement later determined the weapon was a BB gun that closely resembled a handgun.

Leader McMoody moved adoption of the consent calendar on third and final consideration; the clerk reported no objections filed and the speaker announced the consent calendar carried with a constitutional majority. Later in the session Leader Lambert moved that House Bill 622 be heard in the House Education Committee this week; the transcript shows an objection, a recorded roll call and a clerk announcement that read (verbatim) “Aye. 69. 19 days.” The transcript also contains contradictory lines about whether that motion prevailed. A subsequent parliamentary inquiry noted that by suspension of the rules an item had been added to the education committee calendar and that House Bill 622 had been included on that calendar. The record in the transcript is ambiguous about the final procedural effect; the clerk’s numeric announcement is included here exactly as spoken in the transcript.

The University of Memphis delegation and coaches — including Penny Hardaway, Ryan Silverfield and Alex Simmons — were invited to the well and recognized for recent team accomplishments. Hardaway thanked the House and said, “Being born and raised in the city of Memphis and representing this beautiful state, it is an honor for me to have some success for our university.” Coach Silverfield and coach Simmons also thanked members for their support.

The House then recessed. Leader Cochran moved the House stand in recess until 9 a.m. Thursday, April 10, 2025, and the recess was announced by the speaker.

The session record shows this day was largely ceremonial: a series of commemorative resolutions and recognitions, a consent-calendar vote and a series of brief procedural motions and scheduling announcements.